Curtain-fixture.



No. 824,917. PATENTED JULY 3, 1906. C. E.. DUNN. CURTAIN FIXTURE.

-APPLICATION rILBD 13.120,2, 1904.

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'UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLIFFORD E. DUNN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE CURTAIN SUPPLY COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEWV JERSEY, AND CHICAGO, ILLI- NOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEV JERSEY.

CURTAIN-FIXTURE.

Specification of LetterslPatent.

Patented Juiy 3, 190e.

Original application filed June 27, 1904, Serial No. 214,37 7. Divided and this application filed December 2, 1904. Serial No. 2351144'- 'l'o @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CLIFFORD E. DUNN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Fixtures, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This application is a division of my former application, Serial No. 214,37 7 filed June 27, 1904, for an improvement in curtain-fixtures, which disclosed one form of a self-righting fixture comprising a curtain-stick, pivoted head-pieces on said stick, antifriction-rollers, and brakes normally preventing the movement of the rollers, but which brakes were adapted to be released by a tilting of the head-pieces on the stick.

The improvement sought to be covered by this application consists in a somewhat-modified form of fixture and one which is shown in that of the application mentioned and which, while it has a curtain-stick with pivoted head-pieces, antifriction means on the head-pieces, and braking devices operated by the movement of the head-pieces, thev said braking devices are in this instance applied to the groove in the window-frame and not to rollers, as in the former case. By this construction I have produced a very efficient and simple curtain-fixture which in ordinary operation is absolutely self righting and adapted for various uses, such as railroadcars and the like, and it may be modified in its details as desired to conform to the particular use to which it is to be applied.

In the drawings forming part of this application, and which illustrate one embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a sectional view of a portion of the curtain-stick and left-hand head-piece, the said head-piece being in its normal position and the brake being applied; and Fig. 2 is a similar detailed view of the curtain-stick and head-piece, but showing the latter tilted on the stick and the brake withdrawn from operative position.

In the drawings, 1 represents the cylinder of the curtain-stick, and 2 the pinch-handled rods, which are of the usual construction and need not be here particularly described.

3 represents the pivoted head-piece secured to the ends of the rod by the pivot 4, and antifriction-rollers 5 and 6 are mounted upon suitable bearings in the ends of the headpieces and normally bear against the side of the window-frame 7, as shown in Fig. 1. Suitably mounted in said head-pieces and projecting therefrom is the friction-pad S, and I have shown the pad pivotally connected to the adjacent ends of levers 9 9, pivotally mounted in the head-piece, and the pad is normally forced outward against the window-frame by means of springs 10 10. The curtain-stick is provided with a flattened yoke-shaped terminal 11, the ends 12 12 of which bear against the outer ends of the levers 9 9, and stops 13 13 serve to limit the movement of the said yoke and the tilting of the head-piece.

The operation of the device will now be readily understood from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2. In the first figure the fixture is shown as in place, the friction-pad 8 being forced against the window-frame by the springs 10 1() and the curtain-stick being at right angles to the head-piece. When the curtain is pulled down unevenly, as in Fig. 2, in which figure it is shown as having its right side lowered, the head-piece is tilted on the stick, which causes the lowermost of the arms 12 to operate the lower lever 9, and so retract the friction-pad and withdraw it from contact with the window-frame. It is obvious that a similar operation takes place at the other end of the stick, the head-piece there being tilted in a reverse direction and the pad withdrawn, as described. When this is done, the only rollers which are in contact with the window-frame are permitted to rotate freely, and the springs in the curtainstick will force the head-piece outwardly and return the stick to a substantially horizontal position.

In the drawings I have shown my invention as applied to a pinch-handled fixture but I do not wish to limit myself to any such use, as any sort of 'fixture may be used which contains means for maintaining a friction device in contact with the window-frame. I also prefer to supply each end of the curtainstick with a tilting head-piece, such as I have described, as by so doing a much more eflicient device is produced; but I do not wish to limit myself to suoli a structure, as a tilting head-piece upon but one end of the stick will be found to work satisfactorily. In like IOO manner I have shown antifriction-rollers on the ends of said head-pieces; but this is a matter of preference and not of necessity, and antifriction-surfaces other than rollers may be utilized. I also prefer to use a moderately-long head-piece, as it will be found more efficient in operation; but I do not wish to limit myself to any especial length. I also prefer to pivot the head-piece to the curtainstick or plunger-rod; but this is not essential, as it may be movably secured in any well-known and desired manner. Many other changes maybe made in the specific construction of my invention, and I do not intend to limit myself to the particular forms shown and described; but

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a curtain-fixture for a self-righting curtain, the combination with a shade of a curtain-stick, head-pieces movably secured to said stick andhaving antifriction-surfaces for contact with the window-frame, friction devices movably mounted on said heads and having contact-surfaces for engagement with the window-frame and means interposed between the curtain-stick and friction devices whereby the movement of thehead-pieces oncurtain-stick and having antifriction-surfaces for contact with the window-frame, friction devices movably mounted on said headpieces and having contact-surfaces for engagementwith the window-frame and means interposed between the curtain-stick and friction devices whereby the tilting of the head-pieces on the curtain-stick releases the friction devices, substantially as described.

3. In' a curtain-fixture for a spring-actuated curtain, the combination with a shade, of a curtain-stick, head-pieces movably secured to said stick and having antifrictionsurfaces at the ends of said head-pieces and centrally-disposed friction devices movably mounted in said head-pieces and having contact-surfaces for engagement with the window-frame land means interposed between the curtain-stick and friction devices whereby the movement of the head-pieces on the curtain-stick releases the friction devices, substantially as described.

4. In a curtain-fixture for a spring-actuated curtain, the combination with a shade of a curtain-stick, head-pieces pivoted to the curtainstick and having antifrictionrollers at the ends for contact with the window-frame, friction devices movably mounted in saidhead-pieces and having contactsurfaces for engagement with the windowframe and means interposed between the curtain-stick and friction devices whereby they tilting of the head-pieces on the curtain-stick releases the friction devices, substantially as described.

5. A curtain-fixture, comprising a curtainstick, head-pieces movably secured thereto, movable retaining meanslocated in said headpieces for holding the stick in an adjusted position, spring mechanism in said head-pieces for operating said retaining means, and means whereby the tilting of the head-pieces overcomes said spring mechanism and releases the retaining means when the headpieces are tilted on the stick, substantially as described.

6. A curtain-fixture comprising a curtainstick, head-pieces pivotally secured thereto, antifriction-rollers on saidheads and a retractive friction device normally engaging with the window-frame and preventing the movement of the stick and means interposed between the curtain-stick and friction devices for withdrawing the friction device to permit the free movement of the stick when the head-pieces are canted thereon, substantially as described.

7. A curtain-fixture comprising a stick, head-pieces pivotally secured thereto, antifriction-rollers on said head-pieces, centrallydisposed spring operated friction devices normally in contact with the window-frame and preventing the movement of the stick, pivoted levers connected to said friction devices and rocker-arms on said stick engaging Y said levers and adapted to withdraw the friction devices from operation when the headpieces are tilted on the stick,.substantially as described.

8. A curtain-fixture comprising a curtainstick having pivoted head-pieces secured thereto, antifriction devices and brake devices on said head-pieces and means interposed between the curtain-stick and friction devices for releasing said braking devices when the heads are tilted, and means for limiting the motion of said head-pieces, substantially as described.

9. A curtain-fixture comprising a curtainstick, head-pieces movably secured thereto, retaining means located in said head-pieces for holding the stick in an adjusted position, spring mechanism for operating saidl retaining means and means whereby the tilting of the head-pieces overcomes said spring mechanism and releases the retaining means when the head-pieces are tilted on the stick, and means for limiting the motion of said headpieces, substantially as described.

l0. A curtain-fixture comprising a curtainstick, head-pieces pivotally secured thereto, antifriction-rollers on said head-pieces and a friction device normally engaging with the window-frame and preventing the movement of the stick and movable means for withdrawing the friction device to permit the free movement of the stick when the head-pieces are IOO IIO

ISO

canted thereon, and means for limiting the motion of said pieces, substantially as described.

l1. A curtain-fixture comprising a stick, head-pieces pivotally secured thereto, antifriction-rollers on said head-pieces, centrallydisposed friction devices normallyin contact with the Window-frame and preventing the movement of the stick, pivoted levers connecting with said friction devices and rockerarms on said stick engaging said levers and adapted to withdraw the friction devices from operation when the head-pieces are tilted on the stick, and means for limiting the motion of said pieces, substantially as described.

12. In a curtain-fixture, for spring-actuated curtains, the combination with a stick, of a head pivotally supported at the end of the stick, antifriction devices at the ends of the head, an intermediately-disposed friction device projecting from and mounted in the head, pivoted arms connected with the said friction device, and a yoke-shaped member mounted on the stick having its ends positioned to engage the said pivoted arms, substantially as described.

13. In a curtain-xture for spring-actuated curtains, the combination with a shade, of a curtain-stick, head-pieces movably secured to said stick, a friction device carried by said head-pieces, and means interposed between the curtain-stick and friction device yfor moving the friction device to a point withhead-pieces upon the movement of the headpieces relative to the stick.

15. In a curtain-fixture, the combination with a shade of a curtain-stick, head-pieces movably secured to said stick, antifriction devices at the respective ends of the headpieces, an intermediate friction device carried by said head-pieces, and means interposed between the curtain-stick and friction devices for moving the friction devices to a point wi thout and within the head-pieces upon the movement of the head-pieces relative to the stick.

16. In a curtain-fixture for spring-actuated curtains, the combination with a shade of a curtain-stick, head-pieces movably secured to said stick and having `antifrictionsurfaces for contact with the window-frame, friction devices movably mounted on said head-pieces independent of the stick, and having contact-surfaces for engagement with the window-frame, and means whereby the movement of the head-pieces on the curtainstick releases the friction devices.

17. In a curtain-fixture for spring-actuated curtains, the combination with a shade, of a curtain-stick, head-pieces, pivot-pins mounted in the head-pieces for said stick, and said head-pieces having antifriction-surfaces for contact with the window-frame, friction devices movably mounted on said head-pieces and having contact-surfaces for engagement with the window-frame, and means whereby the movement of the headpieces on the curtain-stick releases the friction devices.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLIFFORD E. DUNN. Witnesses:

ADOLPH F. DINsE, A. C. FISCHER. 

